KIRA+: New autonomous public transport test in the Rhine-Main region
Image: Holon
RMV, Deutsche Bahn, and Holon have launched a new project called KIRA+ to test and implement autonomous driving in public transportation in the Rhine-Main region. Preparations for testing are currently underway. The first tests to map the areas are scheduled for 2027 in parts of Darmstadt and the Offenbach district.
RMV CEO Knut Ringat explains that KIRA+ builds on previous experience with autonomous driving and tests advanced technology in vehicles developed specifically for public transportation. “The goal is to integrate autonomous services into regular public transit in the near future,” says Ringat. DB Regio CEO Harmen van Zijderveld cites requirements such as accessibility for customers with mobility limitations and reliable technical oversight at control centers under real-world operating conditions.
The barrier-free electric Holon Urban, equipped with Mobileye’s autonomous driving technology, is being put into use. Developed for public transportation, this vehicle offers five seating positions and one wheelchair space during test operations. When the wheelchair space is used, three passenger seats are available. According to Holon’s CEO Sven Herzig, the vehicle is now operating on public roads in Hamburg and Paderborn, a third German region.
KIRA+ is intended to create a pilot region for autonomous driving in public transportation, where autonomous mobility services are meant to become part of regular public transit. The operation of self-driving vehicles and on-demand booking processes will be tested and studied, with a focus on their scalability. Bookings are made through the project’s own app developed by ioki GmbH, which coordinates ride requests and connects them during route planning; safety personnel continuously monitor the autonomous SAE Level-4 rides throughout the journey.
The planned operation area builds upon the predecessor project KIRA, which runs until the end of 2026. Existing capabilities for autonomous operation, including the control center, can thus continue to be utilized. Experience gained from KIRA and other previous projects is also incorporated into booking processes, operational procedures, and vehicle equipment. KIRA+ aims to build on this foundation to provide further insights for the future use of autonomous vehicles in regular public transportation, including regarding technical oversight.
KIRA+ is one of five test sites for the MILA.mobility funding project. The overall project, supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, stands for “Middleware Integration of Control Centers and Dispatch Systems for Autonomous Mobility.” Its goal is to develop and standardize a middleware architecture that connects the software systems necessary for autonomous public transportation, from the vehicles to fleet management and control centers.
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Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive and financial industries. Since 2011, he has been writing on ecomento.de about electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions. Learn more.
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